CLEVELAND - The NAADD Executive Committee is excited to announce the 12 individuals selected for the 2018 Bobby Purcell Mentor program. "One of the goals of the NAADD Executive Committee is to provide opportunity for growth and learning in our profession to those committed to the future of this important area of Athletics,” said NAADD Executive Committee member Dan Cloran, Executive Associate Athletics Director for Development at The Ohio State University. “I would like to congratulate the Bobby Purcell Mentor Program class of 2018 for taking the opportunity to work with leaders in the Athletics Development profession to assist them to become more knowledgeable, challenged and effective leaders on their respective campuses.”

This continued focus on broadening the learning opportunities for the entire membership will allow the organization and NAADD campus members to draw on the power of fresh ideas and perspectives. This initiative is named after Bobby Purcell who has served in a number of capacities since joining the NC State athletics department in 1981, including serving as Executive Director of the Wolfpack Club since 1991. Purcell has been a champion for mentoring fundraisers on his campus and around the nation his entire career. Twenty people who began their careers at the Wolfpack Club are now at other universities. Purcell served as NAADD President in 2004-05, and was named the 2007 NAADD Fundraiser of the Year and 2014 NAADD Lifetime Achievement Award Winner.

Bobby Purcell Mentor Class of 2018:Jeff Baldwin, Director of Development, Northern Kentucky UniversityBrian Brantley, Director of Athletics Development, Cal PolyBlake Day, Associate Athletics Director for Development, South Dakota State UniversityMegan Edwards, Executive Director of Development, University of LouisvilleBrandon Graves, Associate Athletics Director of Development, University of San FranciscoLaurel Hosmer, Associate Director of Development, University of DelawareSean Johnson, Director of Development, Illinois State UniversityChris Jones, Director of Development for Athletics, Clarion UniversityKelsey Kearney, Assistant Director of Major Gifts, University of South CarolinaMatthew Lisiewski, Assistant Director of Athletics Development, University of DaytonNate Saverino, Assistant Athletics Director for External Affairs, Southeast Missouri State UniversityDerek Steinbach, Director of Development, University of Wisconsin

About NAADD:NAADD is the first organization of its kind to provide educational and networking opportunities, enhancement of acceptable operating standards and ethics, and establishment of the overall prestige and understanding of the profession of athletics development and fund raising. For more information about NAADD, please visitwww.naadd.com. NAADD is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 53rd year. For more information on NACDA and the 17 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visitwww.nacda.com.